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Saturday, January 21, 2012

All religions are not "roads" that lead to the same God! - What makes the Christian Faith most credible?

One of the most popular misconceptions is the misleading notion that "All religions are but various avenues (paths) that lead to the same God." Often added to this universal cardinal [false] belief, is the notion that, "As long as a person is sincere, that is what counts!" Nothing could be farther from the truth. Do all roads lead to Bay City, Michigan? Of course not! But often people, when they are confronted about their own immorality and mortality, they will conveniently abandon intellect, logic -- and, especially their conscience.

If we are to acknowledge "hook, line and sinker," the politically correct and multicultural ideas of the day and accept the notion premise that all religions have equal value, then we would have to accept without reservation and prejudice the rabid, murderous and destructive religious beliefs which motivate Muslims to strap bombs about themselves and their children, while they ruthlessly position their own bodies as explosive projectiles.

After all, these human bombers are sincere. They believe in Allah [their god]. They believe in all earnestness, according to their religious belief, that if they sacrifice themselves for Islam, that they will be transported to eternal happiness and the waiting sensual embrace of umpteen female virgins. This extreme terrorist (perverted version of religious belief) is, considered, (1) a road to God; and, (2) it is firmly held, with all sincerity. It meets the universally held criteria of the popular notion (conception) that "All religions are but various avenues (paths) that lead to the same God," and, "As long as a person is sincere, that is what counts!"

Jesus Christ makes it clear that He is the "Road" to God

The Christian New Testament Gospel of John is a very fascinating book, all in itself. It is mainly a Collection of the sayings of Christ, (humanly written, yet, God, authored), by one of Christ's 12 earthly Disciples. If a person who reads this Gospel seriously, cannot recognize the uniqueness of Christ, then, that person, is totally missing out on the thrust of this literature masterpiece.

In the 10th Chapter of the Christian New Testament of the Gospel of John, Christ is recorded to have spoken one of his famous "I am" discourses. Christ talks of Himself, as being the "Great Shepherd" and the "Door" [of the sheep] and the one who lays down His life for the sheep.

I have always been captivated with the one verse - above all the other 42 verses in this chapter. That verse, is, verse 8: "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers......" John 10:8

Here, Christ exclaims his uniqueness. He claims His exclusivity. He makes the assertion here and in other Gospel statements, that He alone is the one and only avenue [road] to God. We can talk grammatically about present, past and imperfect tense, etc. - but this one lone verse, is, of an "eternal" tense. It directs us to Jesus Christ's eternal presence, as His claim is similar to that, found in New Testament, Revelation 1:8 and Revelation 22:13 - "Alpha" and "Omega"- "the first and the last;" "the beginning and the end." Furthermore, these Scriptures coincide so closely with that of Colossians 1:12-20.

I believe it can be not only safely said, but categorically and clearly indicated, that Christ does not and would not believe our cultures' false and misleading misconception of: "All religions are but various avenues (paths) that lead to the same God." Nor could it be said, that Christ would endorse the political and multicultural concept that "As long as as person is sincere, that is what counts!"

The devastation of sin upon humanity

It is an almost universal conception that "heaven" is a place of peace and perfection. Yet, our earthly existence is cluttered and fraught with every kind of imperfection imaginable and, unimaginable. [Romans 1:18-32] The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures correctly call this "imperfection," - "sin!" Psalm 51:5 and Romans 3:23

This "sin," entered a perfectly created (by God) world, when the first humans "sinned." They "disobeyed" God - which is one definition of sin. Later on, the Triune God instituted His Ten Commandments. To violate (or disobey) these commandments, (also) constitutes, "sin." And, the Bible makes it clear that all humanity, past present and future is stuck with the deplorable, degenerative and damnable ongoing human condition of sin. Romans 5:12 and Romans 1:18-32

God's just punishment for sin

It is both illogical and inconceivable that a fallen (sinful) humanity can have any part and parcel with a Holy Creator God. Yet, people often and mistakenly continue to believe and live that they can please God and gain the perfection of heaven in the life to come, by their own agendas and efforts. Sadly, this is not God's agenda and plan. [Romans 3:19-20 ; Titus 3:3-7 and Ephesians 2:1-10] Unless a person is clothed with the proper garments of Christ's righteousness, he / she is doomed to die in one's sins. Matthew 22:2-14 ; Romans 10:3 ; 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 2:1-9

Christ, God's Son - the only One who could carry humanity's load of sin

Why is Jesus Christ "the only 'Road' to God?" Because He was [is] the holy Creator's sent One who came to earth for the expressed purpose of dealing with mankind's sin problem. Why would you desire to look to a sinful (dead and gone) leader of another religion? Why would you desire to claim Allah for the true God, when this earthy representative was just as imperfect as every human being? Why would you desire to embrace any religion that has zero capacity to deal once and for all - and, for all eternity, with your sin problem and the whole worlds'?

The Hebrew Old Testament and Christian Scriptures make it very plain in many of its writings, that only one person could satisfy the demands of Holy Creator God for all the sins of humanity, - thus making it possible for individuals such as you and I, to gain the [needed] perfection "clothing" of heaven. That person was [is] the [holy and without sin] God-man, Jesus Christ. 1Timothy 2:3-5 and Matthew 22:2-14

The follies of this present culture would pressure us to believe the lie that we can forge our own road to God

Don't think for a moment that you can travel the road to God, fueled on the fumes of your own goodness or efforts. [Ephesians 2:1-10 and Titus 3:5-7] Don't delude yourself into thinking that in order to be fashionable and accepted, that you must accept the present prescriptive beliefs of society.

Friend, know for a spiritual and Biblical reality, that you can do nothing to rescue your wretched sinful self and soul from God's just and holy punishment upon all your youthful, present and future sins. Know that you have no "covering" of your own, except for that of the holy and priceless blood of Christ which was shed for you, for the forgiveness of all of your sins! Isaiah 53:1f

Will you for one moment believe that One far greater than yourself loves you enough to have dethroned himself of heaven and to have been born a sinless human baby? Will you for one moment believe that, the [once] infant Christ lived in a human body, apart from this world's sin, and offered Himself to take away your just and promised eternal punishment, for all your sins?

My dear sinful soul - in order to escape your future banishment from a holy and just God and his perfect heaven -- and, to avoid an eternal hell, [Luke 16:19-31] you must travel the road that He has designed. You must come by way of Christ - the only true and holy God who offered Himself for you and your imperfect self! John 3:14-21 Once, you have believed Him and entrusted yourself into his present and eternal care - then, and only then will you be able to fully understand and comprehend why, "All religions are not roads that lead to the same God" - and, "What makes the Christian Faith most credible?"

2 Samuel 12:1-23 - King David's sin exposed and his recognition of that sin

Psalm 51:1-12 - King David's prayer of confession and his recognition of God's forgiveness and present and eternal deliverance

New Testament Christian Scriptures

John 1:1-36 -The eternal uniqueness of Christ; His Divine origin and that He is the "Lamb of God" sacrificed for the sins of the world

Acts 17:16-34 - The resurrected Christ who will judge the world according to His Righteousness

Of Whom Does the Prophet Speak" -- by Victor Buksbazen -- Isaiah 53:1-12 -- an in-depth view of and the prophecy of Christ, hundred of years before his birth. Isaiah 53:1-12 underscores the truthfulness of Divine Revelation as exemplified in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.Please note:Topical Messages, by subject

The "Words in Season" topical messages and related worship format are not intended to discourage or replace the Christian worship and assembly of Christians at their particular places of church worship. As this website's author, it is my prayer and hope, that many souls will find the topical messages, related worship format and other material, a useful and valuable Christian resource.

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It is the intention and prayer of this website's author, to convey the Christian Message through various topical messages, instruction and information. May God, the Holy Spirit, utilize this effort for His gracious purposes, in participation of His Great Commission directive. [Matthew 28:18-20] In Christ's Name. Amen.